Province of Alberta
FATALITY INQUIRIES ACT
Revised Statutes of Alberta 2000
Chapter F-9
Current as of May 14, 2014
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Note
All persons making use of this consolidation are reminded that it has no
legislative sanction, that amendments have been embodied for convenience of
reference only. The official Statutes and Regulations should be consulted for all
purposes of interpreting and applying the law.
Amendments Not in Force
This consolidation incorporates only those amendments in force on the
consolidation date shown on the cover. It does not include the following
amendments:
2013 cC-12.5 s13 repeals and substitutes s13.
Regulations
The following is a list of the regulations made under the Fatality Inquiries Act
that are filed as Alberta Regulations under the Regulations Act
Alta. Reg.
Fatality Inquiries Act
Amendments
Fatality Inquiries ............................................65/2000 ........... 246/2000, 251/2001,
354/2003, 221/2004,
211/2005, 192/2007,
122/2008, 53/2009,
191/2009, 288/2009,
170/2012
FATALITY INQUIRIES ACT
Chapter F-9
Table of Contents
1
Definitions
Part 1
Administration
The Fatality Review Board
2
3
4
Fatality Review Board
Quorum
Duties of Board
Officials
5
6
7
8
9
Chief Medical Examiner
Staff
Medical examiners
Ceasing to hold office
Investigators by virtue of their office
Part 2
Reporting and Investigation of Deaths
10
11
12
13
14
14.1
15
16
17
18
19
20
Deaths that require notification
Notification of death of prisoner
Notification of death of prisoner not in custody
Notification of death of child
Notification of dead body brought into Alberta for disposal
Special investigation
Examination of bodies to be cremated or shipped out of Province
Interference with body prohibited
Notification of death where body not located
Disposal of unidentified body
Duties of medical examiner
Investigation or autopsy
1
FATALITY INQUIRIES ACT
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
Powers of medical examiner or investigator
Possession and release of body
Destruction of soiled clothing
Offence
Conduct of autopsy
Removal of tissue
Autopsy report
Disinterment
Records
Release of information
Notification of possible offence
Part 3
Review of Investigations
32
33
33.1
Notice to Board
Recommendation for public inquiry
Counsel’s right to information
Part 4
Public Fatality Inquiries
34
35
35.1
35.2
36
37.1
37.2
38
39
40
40.1
40.2
41
42
43
44
45
45.1
46
47
48
49
50
Definitions
Public fatality inquiry
Appointment of counsel
Collection of records
Reopening of or new inquiry
Conferences
Disclosure of records
Powers of judge
Reports as evidence
Evidence at public fatality inquiry
Examination of evidence
Disposition of evidence
Private hearings
Considerations re private hearing
Application for private hearing
Decision of judge final
Refusal to disclose information
Alberta Evidence Act paramount
Disclosure of evidence from a private hearing
Staying of public fatality inquiry
Incriminating questions
Persons at public fatality inquiry
Limitation on examination of witnesses
2
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Section 1
51
52
53
53.1
55
56
FATALITY INQUIRIES ACT
RSA 2000
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Record of evidence
Continuation of public fatality inquiry
Findings after inquiry
Publication of report
Regulations
Offence and penalty
HER MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the
Legislative Assembly of Alberta, enacts as follows:
Definitions
1 In this Act
(a) “autopsy” means the dissection of a body for the purpose of
examining organs and tissues to determine the cause of
death or manner of death or the identity of the deceased and
may include chemical, histological, microbiological or
serological tests and other laboratory investigations;
(b) “Board” means the Fatality Review Board established under
this Act;
(c) “body” means a dead human body or the remains of a dead
human body;
(d) “cause of death” means the medical cause of death
according to the International Statistical Classification of
Diseases, Injuries and Causes of Death as last revised by the
International Conference assembled for that purpose and
published by the World Health Organization;
(e) repealed 2002 cA-4.5 s37;
(f) “examination” means the examination of an unclothed body
with or without the removal of body tissue or fluids for the
purpose of toxicological examinations;
(g) “investigator” means a medical examiners’ investigator
appointed pursuant to section 6 or a person who is a medical
examiners’ investigator by virtue of section 9;
(h) “manner of death” means the mode or method of death
whether natural, homicidal, suicidal, accidental,
unclassifiable or undeterminable;
(i) “medical examiner” means a medical examiner appointed
pursuant to section 7;
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Chapter F-9
(j) “Minister” means the Minister determined under section 16
of the Government Organization Act as the Minister
responsible for this Act;
(k) “next of kin” means the parents, children, brothers, sisters,
spouse and adult interdependent partner of a deceased
person, or any of them;
(l) “pathologist” means a regulated member of the College of
Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta who is authorized to use
the title “pathologist”;
(m) “public fatality inquiry” means a public fatality inquiry
under Part 4.
RSA 2000 cF-9 s1;RSA 2000 cH-7 s146;2002 cA-4.5 s37;
2005 c13 s4(4);2008 c34 s18;2014 c8 s12
Part 1
Administration
The Fatality Review Board
Fatality Review Board
2(1) There is hereby established a Board called the “Fatality
Review Board” that shall consist of 3 members appointed by the
Lieutenant Governor in Council.
(2) Repealed 2009 c48 s5.
(3) One member of the Board appointed by the Lieutenant
Governor in Council must be a physician.
(4) One member of the Board appointed by the Lieutenant
Governor in Council must be a member of The Law Society of
Alberta.
(5) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may designate
(a) one member of the Board as chair of the Board, and
(b) one member of the Board as vice-chair of the Board.
(6) The members of the Board shall receive the remuneration for
their services that may be prescribed by the Lieutenant Governor in
Council.
(6.1) If regulations under the Alberta Public Agencies Governance
Act apply in respect of the remuneration for the members of the
Board, those regulations prevail, to the extent of any conflict or
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Section 3
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inconsistency, over any regulations prescribing remuneration under
subsection (6).
(7) The members of the Board shall be paid, in accordance with
any applicable regulations under the Alberta Public Agencies
Governance Act, for travelling and living expenses incurred while
absent from their places of residence and in the course of their
duties as members.
RSA 2000 cF-9 s2;2009 cA-31.5 s42;
2009 c48 s5;2011 c20 s7
Quorum
3 Two members constitute a quorum at a meeting of the Board.
RSA 2000 cF-9 s3;2011 c20 s7
Duties of Board
4 The Board shall
(a) review investigations under this Act in order to determine
the need for holding a public fatality inquiry;
(b) review complaints respecting misbehaviour or incompetence
or neglect of duty by medical examiners or the inability of
medical examiners to perform their duties under this Act
and, in relation to the review of a complaint, make
recommendations to the Minister, including
recommendations concerning the suspension or termination
of a medical examiner.
RSA 1980 cF-6 s4;1991 c21 s9;1994 cG-8.5 s89;
1998 c23 s7
Officials
Chief Medical Examiner
5(1) The Lieutenant Governor in Council shall appoint a Chief
Medical Examiner who must be a pathologist.
(2) The Chief Medical Examiner shall receive the remuneration
that may be prescribed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council.
(3) The Chief Medical Examiner may exercise and perform the
powers and duties of a medical examiner.
(4) The Chief Medical Examiner is responsible to the Minister for
(a) the operation of this Act in relation to the reporting,
investigating and recording of deaths,
(b) the supervision of medical examiners in the performance of
their duties,
5
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FATALITY INQUIRIES ACT
(c) the development and maintenance of facilities that may be
required,
(d) the education of persons required to perform functions
under this Act, and
(e) the inspection of medical certificates of death in all cases
where burial permits are issued pursuant to the Vital
Statistics Act.
RSA 1980 cF-6 s5;1994 cG-8.5 s89
Staff
6 In accordance with the Public Service Act, there may be
appointed
(a) Deputy Chief Medical Examiners and Assistant Chief
Medical Examiners,
(b) medical examiners’ investigators on a full-time or part-time
basis, and
(c) any other employees required for the purpose of
administering this Act.
RSA 1980 cF-6 s6
Medical examiners
7 The Minister may appoint physicians as medical examiners.
RSA 1980 cF-6 s7;1994 cG-8.5 s89
Ceasing to hold office
8(1) A medical examiner ceases to hold office
(a) on ceasing to be a member of the College of Physicians and
Surgeons of Alberta,
(b) on submitting the medical examiner’s resignation to the
Minister in writing,
(c) on ceasing to be ordinarily resident in Alberta, or
(d) on termination of the medical examiner’s appointment by
order of the Minister.
(2) A medical examiner is suspended during any period that the
medical examiner’s registration is suspended under the Health
Professions Act.
6
Section 9
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FATALITY INQUIRIES ACT
(3) The Minister may suspend the appointment of a medical
examiner during any period that a complaint regarding the medical
examiner is under review by the Board pursuant to section 4(b).
RSA 2000 cF-9 s8;RSA 2000 cH-7 s146;2005 c13 s4(4)
Investigators by virtue of their office
9(1) Every member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police or a
police service or peace officer responsible for the policing of any
part of Alberta pursuant to an arrangement or agreement under
section 5(1)(b) of the Police Act is, by virtue of that office, a
medical examiners’ investigator and has the same powers and
duties as are conferred or imposed on a medical examiners’
investigator by this Act.
(2) An investigator, when authorized to do so by a medical
examiner,
(a) shall assist the medical examiner in carrying out the medical
examiner’s duties under this Act, and
(b) may exercise the powers enumerated in section 21.
RSA 2000 cF-9 s9;2005 c31 s27
Part 2
Reporting and Investigation
of Deaths
Deaths that require notification
10(1) Any person having knowledge or reason to believe that a
person has died under any of the circumstances referred to in
subsection (2) or section 11, 12 or 13 shall immediately notify a
medical examiner or an investigator.
(2) Deaths that occur under any of the following circumstances
require notification under subsection (1):
(a) deaths that occur unexplainedly;
(b) deaths that occur unexpectedly when the deceased was in
apparent good health;
(c) deaths that occur as the result of violence, accident or
suicide;
(d) maternal deaths that occur during or following pregnancy
and that might reasonably be related to pregnancy;
(e) deaths that may have occurred as the result of improper or
negligent treatment by any person;
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(f) deaths that occur
(i) during an operative procedure,
(ii) within 10 days after an operative procedure,
(iii) while under anesthesia, or
(iv) any time after anesthesia and that may reasonably be
attributed to that anesthesia;
(g) deaths that are the result of poisoning;
(h) deaths that occur while the deceased person was not under
the care of a physician;
(i) deaths that occur while the deceased person was in the
custody of a peace officer or as a result of the use of force
by a peace officer while on duty;
(j) deaths that are due to
(i) any disease or ill-health contracted or incurred by the
deceased,
(ii) any injury sustained by the deceased, or
(iii) any toxic substance introduced into the deceased,
as a direct result of the deceased’s employment or
occupation or in the course of one or more of the deceased’s
former employments or occupations.
RSA 1980 cF-6 s10;1984 c9 s1;1991 c21 s9;1999 c26 s9
Notification of death of prisoner
11 If a person dies while
(a) detained in a correctional institution as defined in the
Corrections Act or a jail, including a military guard room,
remand centre, penitentiary, secure services facility as
defined in the Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act,
facility or place designated as a place of open or secure
custody pursuant to the Youth Criminal Justice Act
(Canada), detention centre or a place where a person is held
under a warrant of a judge,
(b) a formal patient in any facility as defined by the Mental
Health Act, or
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FATALITY INQUIRIES ACT
RSA 2000
Chapter F-9
(c) an inmate or patient in any institution specified in the
regulations,
the person in charge of that institution, jail, facility or other place
shall immediately notify a medical examiner.
RSA 2000 cF-9 s11;2003 c16 s117;2003 c41 s4(32)
Notification of death of prisoner not in custody
12 If a person dies while
(a) committed to a correctional institution as defined in the
Corrections Act or a jail, including a military guard room,
remand centre, penitentiary, secure services facility as
defined in the Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act,
facility or place designated as a place of open or secure
custody pursuant to the Youth Criminal Justice Act
(Canada), detention centre or a place where a person is held
under a warrant of a judge,
(b) a formal patient in any facility as defined by the Mental
Health Act, or
(c) an inmate or patient in any institution specified in the
regulations,
but while not on the premises or in actual custody of that facility or
institution, jail or other place, the person in charge of that facility
or institution, jail or other place, shall, immediately on receiving
notice of the death, notify a medical examiner.
RSA 2000 cF-9 s12;2003 c16 s117;2003 c41 s4(32)
Notification of death of child
13 A director under the Child, Youth and Family Enhancement
Act shall immediately notify a medical examiner of the death of
any child under the director’s guardianship or in the director’s
custody.
RSA 2000 cF-9 s13;2003 c16 s117
Notification of dead body brought into Alberta for disposal
14(1) When a body is brought into Alberta for ultimate disposal, a
funeral director, undertaker, embalmer, mortuary attendant or other
person who intends to dispose of the body shall, before disposing
of the body, notify a medical examiner.
(2) After being notified under subsection (1), a medical examiner
or an investigator authorized by the medical examiner may, if the
medical examiner believes it is necessary to do so, make any
investigation that may be necessary to establish or confirm the
cause of death or to establish the identity of the deceased person.
RSA 1980 cF-6 s15;1991 c21 s9;1994 c23 s18
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Section 14.1
FATALITY INQUIRIES ACT
RSA 2000
Chapter F-9
Special investigation
14.1(1) Notwithstanding section 14, when an Alberta resident dies
outside Alberta and the Minister considers that it would be
advisable to investigate the death, the Minister may, whether or not
the body is brought into Alberta for ultimate disposal, order the
Chief Medical Examiner to investigate the death under this Part.
(2) For the purposes of an investigation under subsection (1), the
Chief Medical Examiner may collect from persons in the other
jurisdiction available records that may be relevant to the death.
(3) On completion of an investigation ordered under this section
the Chief Medical Examiner shall provide a report to the Board,
which must be in writing and be accompanied with all of the
records that were collected by the Chief Medical Examiner and
may be relevant to the death.
2005 c11 s2
Examination of bodies to be cremated or shipped out of Province
15(1) No person shall
(a) cremate a body,
(b) ship or take a body from a place in Alberta to a place
outside Alberta, or
(c) dissect a body or otherwise subject a body to study or
research under section 37 of the Post-secondary Learning
Act,
until a medical examiner or an investigator authorized by a medical
examiner issues a certificate stating that the medical examiner or
investigator has examined the medical certificate of death.
(2) A certificate issued under subsection (1) shall be in the form
prescribed by the Chief Medical Examiner.
(3) Notwithstanding subsection (1), in the case of the death in a
hospital of a fetus or of a newborn infant as defined in the
regulations under the Cemeteries Act, the hospital may dispose of
the body in the manner specified by the regulations under the
Cemeteries Act.
RSA 2000 cF-9 s15;2003 cP-19.5 s137
Interference with body prohibited
16(1) Subject to subsection (2), a person who has reason to believe
that a person died under any of the circumstances referred to in
section 10, 11, 12 or 13 shall not, except pursuant to a direction of
10
Section 17
RSA 2000
Chapter F-9
FATALITY INQUIRIES ACT
a medical examiner or a general directive of the Chief Medical
Examiner,
(a) clean or make alterations to the body or clothing on the
body or objects attached to the body, or
(b) apply a chemical or other substance to the body, internally
or externally.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to a police officer acting in the
course of the police officer’s duties or to a person who makes
alterations or applies a chemical or other substance to a body for
the purpose of resuscitation.
RSA 1980 cF-6 s17
Notification of death where body not located
17 If a person knows or believes that a death has occurred in
Alberta but no body has been located because
(a) the body or part of the body has been destroyed,
(b) the body is lying in a place from which it cannot be
recovered, or
(c) the body has been removed from Alberta,
that person shall immediately notify a medical examiner or a
member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police or a member of a
police service.
RSA 2000 cF-9 s17;2005 c31 s27
Disposal of unidentified body
18(1) If a body is unidentified and an investigation indicates that
the body is likely to remain unidentified, the Chief Medical
Examiner shall arrange for the storage of the body for a period of 7
days from the completion of the investigation.
(2) If on the expiry of the 7-day period referred to in subsection (1)
the body remains unidentified, the Chief Medical Examiner shall
notify the nearest university and, if a demand is made under the
Post-secondary Learning Act, deliver the body to a university, or, if
no demand is made, arrange for the burial of the body.
RSA 2000 cF-9 s18;2003 cP-19.5 s137
Duties of medical examiner
19(1) If a medical examiner receives notification of a death and is
satisfied that the death occurred under any of the circumstances
referred to in section 10, 11, 12, 13 or 17, the medical examiner
shall investigate the death and establish where possible
11
Section 19
FATALITY INQUIRIES ACT
RSA 2000
Chapter F-9
(a) the identity of the deceased,
(b) the date, time and place of death,
(c) the circumstances under which the death occurred,
(d) the cause of death, and
(e) the manner of death.
(1.1) Where the Minister makes an order under section 14.1, the
Chief Medical Examiner shall, in investigating the death, establish,
where possible, the matters set out in subsection (1).
(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), when a medical examiner is
unable to investigate a death of which the medical examiner
receives notification, the medical examiner shall
(a) notify another medical examiner if the death occurred under
any of the circumstances referred to in section 10, 11, 12, 13
or 17, and
(b) keep a record of the death including the reasons why the
death was not investigated by the medical examiner.
(3) A medical examiner shall keep a record of all deaths of which
the medical examiner is notified pursuant to this Act or the Vital
Statistics Act and shall immediately report to the Chief Medical
Examiner all investigations that the medical examiner or an
investigator under the medical examiner’s supervision make into a
death.
(4) When a medical examiner has investigated a death and has
determined the manner of death and the cause of death, the medical
examiner shall immediately, in addition to making a report under
subsection (3), complete a medical certificate of death in
accordance with the Vital Statistics Act.
(5) Notwithstanding subsection (1), a medical examiner is not
required to investigate a death that occurred through natural causes
or in the circumstances described in section 10(2)(f)(i) or (ii) if
(a) a physician is able to certify the information in subsection
(6)(a) to (e), and
(b) the medical examiner is satisfied that an investigation is not
required.
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Section 20
FATALITY INQUIRIES ACT
RSA 2000
Chapter F-9
(6) A medical examiner who does not investigate a death under
subsection (5) shall, based on information provided by the
physician, record
(a) the identity of the deceased;
(b) the date, time and place of death;
(c) the circumstances under which the death occurred;
(d) the cause of death;
(e) the manner of death;
(f) the name of the physician who provided the information.
(7) If a medical examiner does not conduct an investigation under
subsection (5), the physician is authorized to complete and sign the
medical certificate of death referred to in section 33 of the Vital
Statistics Act.
RSA 2000 cF-9 s19;2005 c11 s3;2007 cV-4.1 s83
Investigation or autopsy
20 The Chief Medical Examiner may at any time
(a) direct a medical examiner to make an investigation into any
death at any place in Alberta, or
(b) authorize an autopsy of the body of any person who died
under the circumstances described in section 10, 11, 12 or
13.
RSA 1980 cF-6 s21
Powers of medical examiner or investigator
21(1) A medical examiner or an investigator acting under the
medical examiner’s authorization may, in performing the medical
examiner’s or investigator’s duties under this Act,
(a) without a warrant, enter any place where the medical
examiner or investigator believes, on reasonable and
probable grounds, a body that is the subject of an
investigation is located or has been located;
(b) without a warrant, take possession of anything that may be
directly related to the death and may place anything seized
into the custody of a peace officer;
(c) cordon off or secure the scene or area in which the death
under investigation occurred for a period not exceeding 48
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RSA 2000
Chapter F-9
hours or any extended period that the Chief Medical
Examiner may authorize;
(d) with the approval of the Chief Medical Examiner, obtain
services or retain expert assistance for any part of the
medical examiner’s or investigator’s investigation.
(2) When a medical examiner or an investigator seizes anything
under subsection (1)(b), the medical examiner or investigator or the
peace officer who has custody of it shall retain it until the
conclusion of any investigation or public fatality inquiry into the
death or until the thing seized is no longer required and then shall
return it to the person from whom it was seized or, if that person is
deceased, to the personal representative of that person.
(3) Notwithstanding any other Act, regulation or other law, a
medical examiner is entitled to inspect and make copies of any
diagnosis, record or information relating to
(a) a person receiving diagnostic and treatment services in a
diagnostic and treatment centre under the Mental Health
Act, or
(b)
a patient under the Hospitals Act.
RSA 2000 cF-9 s21;RSA 2000 cH-5 s113
Possession and release of body
22(1) When a medical examiner conducts an investigation into a
death pursuant to this Act, the medical examiner is deemed to take
possession of the body at the time the medical examiner receives
the notification.
(2) As soon as possible after taking possession of the body, the
medical examiner shall sign a notice in the form prescribed by the
Chief Medical Examiner and cause it to be affixed to the body or
the shroud, garment or container holding the body.
(3) Failure to sign or affix the notice under subsection (2) does not
affect the right of the medical examiner to take possession of the
body.
(4) A medical examiner may carry out examinations of the body.
(5) The medical examiner may release the body for burial or other
disposition when possession of the body is no longer required for
the purposes of this Act.
RSA 1980 cF-6 s23
14
Section 23
RSA 2000
Chapter F-9
FATALITY INQUIRIES ACT
Destruction of soiled clothing
23 The medical examiner may destroy any soiled or damaged
clothing that was taken into possession with a body and that is not
required for the purposes of this Act or an investigation or
proceeding conducted under any other statute in force in Alberta.
RSA 1980 cF-6 s24
Offence
24 A person who hinders, obstructs, intimidates or in any way
interferes with a medical examiner or an investigator in the
performance of the medical examiner’s or investigator’s duties is
guilty of an offence.
RSA 1980 cF-6 s25
Conduct of autopsy
25(1) A medical examiner may authorize the autopsy of the body
of any person who died under the circumstances described in
section 10, 11, 12 or 13.
(2) Where a medical examiner authorizes an autopsy
(a) the autopsy shall only be carried out by a pathologist;
(b) the person who performs the autopsy may excise, remove
and retain any part of the body or any object found in the
body for the purpose of establishing the cause of death and
the manner of death.
RSA 1980 cF-6 s26
Removal of tissue
26 Notwithstanding section 25(2)(b), a medical examiner may
remove or allow the removal of tissue or organs in accordance with
the Human Tissue and Organ Donation Act, if the removal of the
tissue or organs does not interfere with any investigation or
proceeding under any law in force in Alberta.
RSA 2000 cF-9 s26;2006 cH-14.5 s15
Autopsy report
27 A person who performs an autopsy shall provide the medical
examiner who ordered the autopsy with any autopsy reports that
may be prescribed by the regulations.
RSA 1980 cF-6 s28
Disinterment
28(1) Notwithstanding section 17 of the Cemeteries Act, the Chief
Medical Examiner may order a body to be disinterred for the
purposes of an investigation under this Act or the Criminal Code
(Canada).
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Section 29
RSA 2000
Chapter F-9
FATALITY INQUIRIES ACT
(2) Copies of an order under subsection (1) shall be sent by
registered mail at least 48 hours before the disinterment to
(a) the spouse, adult interdependent partner or, if there is no
spouse or adult interdependent partner, any other of the
adult next of kin of the deceased who is resident in Alberta,
(b) the Registrar of Vital Statistics, and
(c) the owner or the person in charge of the cemetery or
mausoleum where the body is buried or stored.
(3) Subsection (2)(a) does not apply when the Chief Medical
Examiner has ordered a body to be disinterred for the purposes of
an investigation under the Criminal Code (Canada).
RSA 2000 cF-9 s28;2002 cA-4.5 s37;2007 cV-4.1 s83
Records
29 A medical examiner shall, immediately after completing an
investigation under this Act, provide the Chief Medical Examiner
with a record of the investigation and the reports, certificates and
other documents that are prescribed by the regulations.
RSA 1980 cF-6 s30;1991 c21 s9
Release of information
30(1) Except for reports, certificates and other records made in the
course of a public fatality inquiry, all reports, certificates and other
records made by any person under this Act are the property of the
Government and shall not be released without the permission of the
Chief Medical Examiner.
(2) On the completion of
(a) the investigation, and
(b) the public fatality inquiry, if one is held,
and on the receipt of a request from any of the adult next of kin or
the personal representative of the deceased, the Chief Medical
Examiner shall complete and send a report to the person making
the request.
RSA 1980 cF-6 s31;1998 c23 s7
Notification of possible offence
31 If, at any time during the course of a medical examiner’s
investigation, the medical examiner is of the opinion that an
offence under the Criminal Code (Canada) that is related to the
death being investigated may have been committed, the medical
examiner shall immediately notify the Chief Medical Examiner and
16
Section 32
RSA 2000
Chapter F-9
FATALITY INQUIRIES ACT
the chief constable or officer in charge of the nearest police
detachment or station.
RSA 1980 cF-6 s32
Part 3
Review of Investigations
Notice to Board
32(1) The Chief Medical Examiner shall notify the Board of any
death that has been the subject of an investigation if
(a) the cause of death has not been established;
(b) the manner of death has not been established;
(c) the body is unidentified or has not been located;
(d) a medical examiner, any of the next of kin of the deceased
or anyone that the Chief Medical Examiner considers to be
an interested party requests in writing that the Board review
the investigation and provides reasonable grounds for the
review;
(e) the death is one referred to in section 10(2)(i), 11 or 12;
(f) the Chief Medical Examiner considers a review of the
investigation to be necessary or desirable;
(g) the death is one referred to in section 13 and the manner of
death is unnatural or undetermined or the death has occurred
under suspicious circumstances.
(2) Notification by the Chief Medical Examiner under subsection
(1) must be in writing and be accompanied with all reports and
certificates that may be relevant to the death.
RSA 1980 cF-6 s33;1991 c21 s9
Recommendation for public inquiry
33(1) When the Board receives a notification pursuant to section
32 or a report pursuant to section 14.1(3), it shall review the
notification or report and the material submitted to it with the
notification or report, together with any other material it considers
relevant, and may recommend any further investigation that may be
necessary.
(2) After reviewing the matters set out in subsection (1), the Board
shall
(a) recommend to the Minister that a public fatality inquiry be
held, or
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Section 33.1
RSA 2000
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FATALITY INQUIRIES ACT
(b) recommend to the Minister that no public fatality inquiry be
held.
(3) When the Board conducts a review under this section with
respect to a death referred to in section 10(2)(i), 11, 12 or 13, the
Board shall recommend that a public fatality inquiry be held unless
it is satisfied
(a) that the death was due entirely to natural causes and was not
preventable and that the public interest would not be served
by a public fatality inquiry, or
(b) that there was no meaningful connection between the death
and the nature or quality of care or supervision being
provided to the deceased person by reason of the deceased
person’s status as described in section 10(2)(i), 11, 12 or 13.
(4) Notwithstanding subsection (2), where, pursuant to a report
from the Chief Medical Examiner under section 14.1, the Board
makes a recommendation that a public fatality inquiry be held in
respect of a death that occurred outside Alberta, the
recommendation must be limited to inquiring into matters that are
related to the death and have a direct connection to Alberta.
RSA 2000 cF-9 s33;2005 c11 s4
Counsel’s right to information
33.1 The Board shall, on the request of counsel appointed under
section 35.1, make available to counsel for inspection
(a) all material referred to in section 33(1) that is in its
possession, and
(b) all recommendations made by it under section 33(2).
2005 c11 s5
Part 4
Public Fatality Inquiries
Definitions
34 In this Part,
(a) “Chief Judge” means the Chief Judge of The Provincial
Court of Alberta;
(b) “clerk” means a clerk of The Provincial Court of Alberta;
(c) “judge” means a judge of The Provincial Court of Alberta.
RSA 2000 cF-9 s34;2008 c32 s13
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Section 35
FATALITY INQUIRIES ACT
RSA 2000
Chapter F-9
Public fatality inquiry
35(1) The Minister
(a) shall on the recommendation of the Board, and
(b) may in any other case,
order that a judge conduct a public fatality inquiry into a death or 2
or more deaths that arose out of the same or similar circumstances.
(2) Where, pursuant to a recommendation of the Board referred to
in section 33(4), the Minister makes an order under subsection (1)
in respect of a death that occurred outside Alberta, the order must
limit the scope of the public fatality inquiry to matters that are
related to the death and have a direct connection to Alberta.
(3) On an order being made under subsection (1), the Chief Judge
shall designate a judge to hold a public fatality inquiry into the
death in respect of which the order was made.
RSA 2000 cF-9 s35;2005 c11 s6;2008 c32 s13
Appointment of counsel
35.1(1) When the Minister makes an order under section 35, the
Minister shall appoint a member of The Law Society of Alberta as
counsel for the purposes of the inquiry.
(2) Counsel appointed under subsection (1)
(a) shall, with direction from the inquiry judge, determine the
witness list for the inquiry,
(b) is responsible for overseeing the presentation of evidence at
the inquiry, and
(c) may present arguments and submissions and examine and
cross-examine witnesses at the inquiry.
2005 c11 s7
Collection of records
35.2(1) For the purposes of carrying out his or her duties under
this Act in respect of a public fatality inquiry, counsel appointed
under section 35.1 may collect any records that are or may be
relevant for the purposes of the public fatality inquiry.
(2) A person who receives a request for a record from counsel
appointed under section 35.1 shall disclose the record in
accordance with the request.
(3) Where a person fails to comply with a request under this
section, counsel appointed under section 35.1 may, on at least 2
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Section 36
RSA 2000
Chapter F-9
FATALITY INQUIRIES ACT
days’ notice to that person, apply to the judge conducting the
public fatality inquiry for an order directing the person to comply
with the request, and the judge may make the order accordingly,
subject to any terms and conditions the judge considers
appropriate.
2005 c11 s7
Reopening of or new inquiry
36 At any time after the conclusion of a public fatality inquiry the
Minister may
(a) order that the judge who conducted the public fatality
inquiry reopen the public fatality inquiry, or
(b) make an order under section 35 directing that a judge
conduct another public fatality inquiry into the death or
deaths that were the subject-matter of the concluded public
fatality inquiry.
RSA 2000 cF-9 s36;2005 c11 s8
37 Repealed 2005 c11 s9.
Conferences
37.1(1) A judge who conducts a public fatality inquiry
(a) shall, before receiving any evidence at the inquiry, and
(b) may, at any time during the inquiry
hold a conference under this section.
(2) At a conference referred to in subsection (1) the judge may
give directions respecting
(a) the issues that will be or are under consideration at the
public fatality inquiry,
(b) procedural matters and matters of fairness related to the
public fatality inquiry, and
(c) any other issues that the judge considers have arisen or will
arise in connection with the public fatality inquiry.
(3) After holding a conference referred to in subsection (1), the
judge may
(a) limit the issues that will be under consideration at the public
fatality inquiry, or
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Section 37.2
FATALITY INQUIRIES ACT
RSA 2000
Chapter F-9
(b) stay the public fatality inquiry if the judge is of the opinion
that all of the matters referred to in section 53(1) have
already been examined and determined in another forum.
2005 c11 s10
Disclosure of records
37.2(1) Counsel appointed under section 35.1 may disclose to any
of the persons referred to in section 49(2)
(a) records that have been provided to counsel under section
33.1, and
(b) any other records collected by counsel that he or she
considers relevant for the purposes of the public fatality
inquiry.
(2) A person referred to in subsection (1) may use records
disclosed under subsection (1) only for the purposes of preparing
for or participating in the public fatality inquiry.
(3) When a record is disclosed to a person under this section, that
person must return the record, together with any copies of it that
have been made, to counsel appointed under section 35.1 within 30
days after the completion of any judicial review arising out of the
findings of the judge or, if no application for judicial review is
made, within 30 days after the expiry of the time allowed for doing
so.
2005 c11 s10
Powers of judge
38(1) A judge who conducts a public fatality inquiry may engage
the services of clerks, reporters and assistants to assist him or her in
the inquiry.
(2) The judge has the power of summoning any persons as
witnesses and of requiring them to give evidence on oath, orally or
in writing, and to produce any documents, papers and things that
the judge considers to be required for the purposes of the inquiry.
(3) Repealed 2005 c11 s11.
(4) A judge has the same powers
(a) to compel the attendance of witnesses, and
(b) to punish a witness for
(i) disobeying a summons to appear,
(ii) refusing to be sworn, or
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Section 39
FATALITY INQUIRIES ACT
RSA 2000
Chapter F-9
(iii) refusing to give evidence,
as are conferred on a judge of the Provincial Court by the Criminal
Code (Canada).
(5) If the judge considers it advisable because of the distance a
person resides from where the person’s attendance is required or
for any other reason, the judge may appoint a person to take
evidence of that person and to report it to the judge.
(6) A person appointed to take evidence under subsection (5) must,
before doing so, be sworn before the judge or a justice of the peace
to faithfully execute that duty.
RSA 2000 cF-9 s38;2005 c11 s11;2008 c32 s13
Reports as evidence
39(1) A report that purports to be made by the medical examiner
pursuant to section 19(3) or by the Chief Medical Examiner
pursuant to section 14.1(3) shall be admitted in evidence without
proof of the signature or appointment of the medical examiner or
Chief Medical Examiner.
(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), the judge may issue a
summons to a medical examiner or to the Chief Medical Examiner
to attend and give evidence at a public fatality inquiry, and the
medical examiner or Chief Medical Examiner is entitled to receive
a fee for attendance as prescribed by the regulations if that person
is not a full-time employee of the Government.
RSA 2000 cF-9 s39;2005 c11 s12
Evidence at public fatality inquiry
40(1) Subject to subsection (3), a judge may admit in evidence at a
public fatality inquiry, whether or not it is admissible as evidence
in a judicial proceeding,
(a) any oral testimony, or
(b) any document or other thing,
that is relevant to the purposes of the public fatality inquiry but
shall refuse to admit in evidence all or part of any oral testimony or
any document or other thing if the judge is satisfied that the oral
testimony, document or other thing or part of it is vexatious,
unimportant or unnecessary for the purposes of the public fatality
inquiry.
(2) Notwithstanding any other Act, regulation or other law, a judge
may admit in evidence all or any relevant part of a diagnosis,
record or information referred to in section 21(3) to enable the
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Section 40.1
FATALITY INQUIRIES ACT
RSA 2000
Chapter F-9
judge to make findings and recommendations and to report in
respect of any or all of the matters set out in section 53.
(3) Nothing is admissible in evidence at a public fatality inquiry
that would be inadmissible in a judicial proceeding by reason of
any privilege under the law of evidence.
(4) If the judge is satisfied as to its authenticity, a copy of a
document or other thing may be admitted in evidence at a public
fatality inquiry.
(5) When a document has been admitted in evidence at a public
fatality inquiry, the judge may, or the person producing it or
entitled to it may, with the leave of the judge, cause the document
to be photocopied and the judge may
(a) authorize the photocopy to be admitted in evidence in the
place of the document admitted and release the document
admitted, or
(b) furnish to the person producing it or the person entitled to it
a photocopy of the document admitted that has been
certified by the judge.
RSA 2000 cF-9 s40;RSA 2000 cH-5 s113
Examination of evidence
40.1(1) Subject to subsection (2), no person other than the judge,
counsel appointed under section 35.1 and the persons referred to in
section 49(2) have a right to examine evidence at a public fatality
inquiry.
(2) The judge may permit a person other than a person referred to
in subsection (1) to examine evidence at a public fatality inquiry if
the judge is satisfied that doing so would be consistent with the
purposes of the inquiry and that there is no significant private or
public interest reason why the person should not examine the
evidence.
2005 c11 s13
Disposition of evidence
40.2 Within a reasonable time after the written report in respect of
a public fatality inquiry is made to the Minister under section 53,
exhibits must
(a) be returned to the persons to whom they belong or who
entered them in evidence, or
(b) where the persons referred to in clause (a) cannot be located
or refuse to accept the exhibits, be delivered to the Chief
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Section 41
FATALITY INQUIRIES ACT
RSA 2000
Chapter F-9
Medical Examiner for storage or disposal as the Chief
Medical Examiner considers appropriate.
2005 c11 s13
Private hearings
41 Subject to section 42, all hearings at a public fatality inquiry
under this Act shall be open to the public except where the judge is
of the opinion that
(a) matters involving public security may be disclosed, or
(b) intimate or personal matters or other matters may be
disclosed at the hearing that are of such a nature, having
regard to the circumstances, that the desirability of avoiding
disclosure of the matters in the interest of any person
affected or in the public interest outweighs the desirability
of adhering to the principle that hearings be open to the
public,
in which case the judge may hold the hearing or any part of it
concerning any such matters in camera.
1985 c26 s5;1998 c23 s7
Considerations re private hearing
42 Without restricting the generality of section 41(b), the judge
shall weigh and consider the following matters, as applicable,
before holding the hearing or any part of it in camera:
(a) the private interests of a patient or person or, where the
patient or person is deceased, of the patient’s or person’s
next of kin;
(b) the private interests of third parties;
(c) the private interests of the attending physician or any other
person providing diagnostic or treatment services to a
patient or a person;
(d) whether disclosure of all or part of the diagnosis, medical
records or information of a patient or person is likely to
result in harm to the patient or person or to the treatment or
recovery of the patient or person or is likely to result in
injury or harm to the mental or physical condition of a third
person;
(e) whether disclosure of all or part of the diagnosis, medical
records or information of a deceased patient or person is
likely to result in injury or harm to the mental or physical
condition of a third person;
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Section 43
FATALITY INQUIRIES ACT
RSA 2000
Chapter F-9
(f) whether the disclosure would be prejudicial to the interests
of persons not concerned in the inquiry;
(g) whether the holding of the hearing in camera is essential in
the interests of justice or would be injurious to the public
interest;
(h) whether the holding of the hearing in camera is necessary in
the interest of morals or public order;
(i) whether a patient or person or, if the patient or person is
deceased, the patient’s or person’s legal representative has
consented to having the diagnosis, record or information
disclosed in a hearing open to the public.
1985 c26 s5
Application for private hearing
43 An application that the public fatality inquiry or any part of it
be held in camera may be made by any person referred to in section
49, and the application must be heard in camera.
1985 c26 s5;1998 c23 s7
Decision of judge final
44 No decision of the presiding judge that a hearing or any part of
it be held in camera or in public shall be questioned or reviewed in
any court, and no order shall be made or process entered or
proceedings taken in any court, whether by way of certiorari,
mandamus, injunction, declaratory judgment, prohibition, quo
warranto or otherwise, to question, review, prohibit or restrain that
decision.
1985 c26 s5
Refusal to disclose information
45 No person who is required to furnish information or to
produce any document, paper or thing or is summoned to give
evidence at a public fatality inquiry under this Act shall refuse to
disclose the information, produce the document, paper or thing or
give the evidence on the ground that an Act or regulation requires
the person to maintain secrecy or not to disclose any matter.
1985 c26 s5;1998 c23 s7
Alberta Evidence Act paramount
45.1 For greater certainty, sections 38, 40 and 45 are subject to
section 9 of the Alberta Evidence Act.
2005 c11 s14
Disclosure of evidence from a private hearing
46(1) No person shall knowingly and wilfully release, publish or
disclose or cause to be released, published or disclosed to anyone
25
Section 47
RSA 2000
Chapter F-9
FATALITY INQUIRIES ACT
any oral testimony or documentary evidence introduced or heard in
camera at a public fatality inquiry.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to
(a) oral testimony, or
(b) documentary evidence
contained in the findings of the judge or in the written report of the
judge under section 53.
RSA 2000 cF-9 s46;2005 c11 s15
Staying of public fatality inquiry
47(1) The Minister or counsel appointed under section 35.1 may at
any time before or during a public fatality inquiry stay the inquiry
(a) for the purpose of allowing a police investigation in respect
of a death, or
(b) pending the determination of a charge where a person, in
respect of a death, is charged under any statute in force in
Alberta.
(2) Where a public fatality inquiry is stayed under subsection (1),
the Minister may
(a) refer the matter back to the Board, or
(b) refer the matter back to the judge to continue the public
fatality inquiry at a later date.
RSA 2000 cF-9 s47;2005 c11 s16
Incriminating questions
48(1) A witness at a public fatality inquiry is deemed to object to
any question asked the witness if the answer to the question may
tend to incriminate the witness or may tend to establish the
witness’s liability to a civil proceeding at the instance of the Crown
or of any other person and no answer given by a witness at a public
fatality inquiry may be used or be receivable in evidence against
the witness in any trial or other proceeding subsequently taking
place other than a prosecution for perjury in the giving of that
evidence.
(2) When it appears at any stage of the public fatality inquiry that a
witness is about to give evidence that would tend to incriminate the
witness, it is the duty of the judge to inform the witness of the
witness’s rights under section 5 of the Canada Evidence Act
(Canada).
RSA 1980 cF-6 s42;1998 c23 s7
26
Section 49
RSA 2000
Chapter F-9
FATALITY INQUIRIES ACT
Persons at public fatality inquiry
49(1) Repealed 2005 c11 s17.
(2) The following persons may appear at a public fatality inquiry
either personally or through their legal counsel and may
cross-examine witnesses and present arguments and submissions:
(a) any of the next of kin of the deceased;
(b) the personal representative of the deceased;
(c) a beneficiary under a policy of life insurance on the life of
the deceased;
(d) any person who the judge, on application, determines has a
direct and substantial interest in the subject-matter of the
inquiry.
RSA 2000 cF-9 s49;2005 c11 s17
Limitation on examination of witnesses
50 The judge may at any time limit examination or
cross-examination of witnesses when in the judge’s opinion the
examination or cross-examination is vexatious, irrelevant or
unnecessary.
RSA 1980 cF-6 s44
Record of evidence
51 The judge shall cause a record of the evidence received at a
public fatality inquiry to be made including a list of exhibits and
witnesses.
RSA 1980 cF-6 s45;1998 c23 s7
Continuation of public fatality inquiry
52 If a public fatality inquiry is commenced by a judge who dies
or retires or is removed from office before the completion of the
public fatality inquiry, or who for any reason is unable to complete
the public fatality inquiry, the Minister may appoint another judge
to complete the public fatality inquiry or to conduct another public
fatality inquiry.
RSA 1980 cF-6 s46;1994 cG-8.5 s89;1998 c23 s7
Findings after inquiry
53(1) At the conclusion of the public fatality inquiry, the judge
shall make a written report to the Minister that shall contain
findings as to the following:
(a) the identity of the deceased;
(b) the date, time and place of death;
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Section 53.1
RSA 2000
Chapter F-9
FATALITY INQUIRIES ACT
(c) the circumstances under which the death occurred;
(d) the cause of death;
(e) the manner of death.
(2) A report under subsection (1) may contain recommendations as
to the prevention of similar deaths.
(3) The findings of the judge shall not contain any findings of legal
responsibility or any conclusion of law.
(4) The report and findings of the judge under subsection (1) and
any recommendations under subsection (2) shall not disclose any
matters heard or disclosed in camera, unless the judge is satisfied
that the disclosure is essential in the public interest.
RSA 2000 cF-9 s53;2005 c11 s18
Publication of report
53.1 The Minister shall make a written report under section 53
available to the public in a form and manner the Minister considers
appropriate.
2005 c11 s19
54 Repealed 2005 c11 s20.
Regulations
55 The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations
(a) governing fees payable under this Act
(i) to witnesses, court reporters and interpreters, and
(ii) to persons who provide services under this Act;
(b) governing the procedures to be followed by medical
examiners or investigators who conduct investigations under
this Act;
(c) governing the procedures to be followed by pathologists
who perform autopsies under this Act;
(d) prescribing reports, certificates and other documents that
must be provided to medical examiners, the Chief Medical
Examiner or the Board;
(e) prescribing a tariff of fees to be charged for services
provided under this Act;
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Section 56
FATALITY INQUIRIES ACT
RSA 2000
Chapter F-9
(f) designating any place as an institution for the purposes of
section 11 or 12 or both;
(g) prescribing the persons and classes of persons to whom
copies of autopsy reports made under section 27 shall be
provided by the Chief Medical Examiner.
RSA 2000 cF-9 s55;2005 c11 s21
Offence and penalty
56 A person who contravenes this Act or the regulations is guilty
of an offence and liable to a fine of not more than $1000 or to
imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months.
RSA 1980 cF-6 s50
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